10 Things You Need to Know For the Waste & Recycling Industry Today (July 30, 2014)

Cramer trash talks with Waste Management CEO “David Steiner, Waste Management president and CEO, discusses the state of business, its sale of Wheelabrator and green initiatives with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.” (Yahoo! Finance)

Municipal waste could provide 12 percent of U.S. power “We're not crazy about incinerators. But if we sent our waste there instead of to landfills, the U.S. could get 12 percent of its electricity from waste and heat tens of millions of homes and businesses, according to Columbia University's Earth Engineering Center.” (GreenBiz.com)

New York to Invest $250M Into Clean Energy Projects “New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $250 million is available to fund large-scale clean energy generation projects such as wind farms, fuel cells, biomass facilities, renewable biogas and upgrading small- to medium-sized hydropower projects. The state will hold a competitive solicitation to promote the development of a range of renewable energy resources. The contracts for the clean energy projects will be awarded for a term of up to 20 years.” (Environmental Leader)

The Dirty Fight for Oakland's Trash “Last week, Oakland city officials released recommendations for the city's garbage contract based on proposals they had negotiated with the only two bidders: Waste Management of Alameda County and California Waste Solutions. But the proposals, on which the city council is scheduled to vote this week, have raised a wide range of concerns from labor groups, environmental activists, and councilmembers who argue that the city's flawed bidding process and subsequent negotiations have left Oakland with unsatisfactory options.” (East Bay Express)

City leaders discuss mandatory recycling in Kansas City “City representatives are closer to discussing whether to make recycling mandatory in Kansas City. Nearly 90,000 tons of trash is collected in Kansas City. Less than a third of that is recycled. ‘Recycling saves money,’ Michael Shaw, who works for Kansas City Public Works, said.” (KSHB.com)

Fairfax board rejects extension of controversial Lorton landfill’s use “In a vote Tuesday that reflected the deep community divisions around a plan to extend the life of an industrial landfill in Lorton, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors decided to close the landfill several years earlier than its owner wanted. The 6-to-4 vote came after several attempts to compromise on the plan, which pitted local concerns about truck traffic against broader hopes to develop green energy technology in a rapidly transforming area of the county that overlooks the Occoquan River.” (The Washington Post)

Evanston passes plastic shopping bag ban “Evanston aldermen crossed off one of the top items on local environmentalists’ lists Monday night, passing a ban on disposable plastic bags for chain and franchise stores. Aldermen voted 5-4 to approve the ordinance, which sat on the shelf nearly three years until Chicago moved forward on a partial ban this spring. Ald. Ann Rainey cited the importance of the Chicago ordinance as influencing her support.” (Evanston Review)

New Mercury Law For Minnesota Begins Friday “Makers of thermostats that contain mercury will now be taking on greater responsibility for keeping their products out of the garbage and sewer system, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced Tuesday.” (CBS Minnesota)

PetStar opens PET recycling plant in Mexico “Coca-Cola Mexico has officially opened what the bottling company says is the largest food-grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in the world. Following the investment of more than $100 million by Coca-Cola’s system, along with a number of partners on the project, the PetStar facility is now able to process up to 65,000 tons of PET bottles per year, doubling the facility’s capacity in Toluca, Mexico, according to the company.” (Recycling Today)

Boulder council supports mandatory commercial recycling “Saying it is time for the business sector to do its share, Boulder City Council members Tuesday night supported requiring commercial recycling and requiring food businesses to compost. The City Council met for a study session to discuss Boulder's zero-waste strategies and did not take any formal votes.” (Daily Camera)